May 11

May 11 Review: Future Islands at The Orange Peel

From the moment Future Islands stepped foot on stage at The Orange Peel on May 6, vocalist Samuel T. Herring was dancing.

Backing Herring was the band's locked-in trio of Gerrit Welmers (keyboards / programming), William Cashion (bass/guitar), and Michael Lowry (percussion), whose expertly-crafted and infectious synth pop — reminiscent of New Order and OMD — provided the frontman the necessary grooves to remain in perpetual motion. With his bandmates stationed towards the back of the stage, Herring had plenty of floor space to use, dancing erratically under the hot, bright lights as his voice contorted from motivational-speaker crooning to ferocious growls.

Much like the band’s breakout performance of “Seasons (Waiting on You)” on Late Night with David Letterman, which went viral in 2014, Herring’s distinct stage presence provided the jam-packed crowd — which, as Herring informed us, included some of the band members own parents — with a captivating visual element to focus on. But none of it would have mattered if the music wasn’t so on point.

Since the release of its 2008 debut, Wave Like Home, Future Islands has been a consistent source of catchy, synth-laden jams, and the balanced set showcased the depth of the band's discography. Unsurprisingly, the aforementioned hit ignited the night’s most explosive reaction from the crowd, but it was far from the only highlight during a set that also included “Vireo’s,” “Before The Bridge,” and closer “Little Dreamer.”

Joining Future Islands all the way from Malta, electro-pop producer JOON opened the show. Bouncing between standing at her laptop and energetically dancing around the stage and singing, the solo artist delivered an adventurous mix of electronic sounds. Italo disco, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Roberto Cacciapaglia’s The Ann Steel Album, Mariah, Fever Ray, and Grimes all came to my mind at various points during the set. While the sound could have been turned up a few decibels for a more impactful experience, JOON set the tone for a night of great music.

If not for the quality of the performances by JOON and Future Islands, it would have been a real struggle to endure the claustrophobic feeling of being packed into The Orange Peel like a tin of sardines. It’s amazing the things we’ll do just for the thrill of hearing a song as magnificent as “Tin Man” in person.

(Lead photo by Jonny Leather)